Despite serious criticism of the card for UFC 161, the vibe in Winnipeg has been remarkable.
In fact, there have been three common themes that have stood out since I arrived in the city, and they all make for compelling reasons why this card will be exceptional Saturday night.
Speed vs. Power
When it comes to the main event between Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson, many around the UFC have been focusing on the whole “must win” scenario for both combatants.
Evans is chasing that rematch he desperately wants with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, while Henderson is vying to become the first ever, true, Triple Crown Champion in MMA.
The only missing piece would be the UFC title, as he’s already been a champion in Pride and Strikeforce.
On the surface, this fight is predominately about Rashad’s speed and mobility against Henderson’s power. I’ve been professing the old adage to anyone that will listen: speed kills and it will be the difference against power.
But according to some coaches and athletes on the UFC roster, the belief is that power will always trump speed.
That’s the key to his main event — it’s all about which Rashad shows up and how elusive he can be against Dan’s “H-bomb”.
Can he avoid it all night? If he can, I believe he has the edge. If he cannot, his next bout will likely be at 185 lbs.
All Or Nothing And Nothing To Lose
That’s the headline when it comes to the co-main event between heavyweights Roy (Big Country) Nelson and Stipe Miocic.
Nelson is all in — a victory will secure him a bout with a top-five contender, and a win will finally give the incredibly popular fan favourite that elusive title shot. But it won’t be easy.
Many have professed that some of the most dangerous fighters are those with supreme confidence, and those that have nothing to lose.
Miocic falls into the latter category, and is not expected to win this fight. All the pressure is on Nelson, and based on what Stipe told me, he could care less how he wins, just as long as he gets the “W”.
And if he does, all the momentum Roy has built up will temporarily vanish, while catapulting Stipe into the top 10. It’s an intriguing bout, whose final result will have significant repercussions in the division.
Canadian Content
Hands down, the loudest cheers during the weigh-ins Friday were for Roy Nelson.
Right behind him was hometown hero Roland Delorme, who stepped on stage with a shirt promoting the local area code of “204”. It sent the fans into a frenzy and I can just imagine how they will react when he makes his way to the octagon, and the sheer insanity that could follow if the submission ace taps out opponent, Edwin Figueroa.
That’s just one prelim bout that will air on Sportsnet.
My eyes will be on every bout, but I am truly looking forward to the scrap between Mitch Clarke and John Maguire. I have a boatload of respect for Clarke, especially after he performed so well in his last bout; a 15-minute affair that was complicated after he blew out his knee in the first 30 seconds of the fight.
That’s heart, courage, and the will to win.
The rest of the Canadians will surely keep the fans at the MTS Centre screaming all night long. Yves Jabouin will kick things off with his speed and accuracy while Sean Pierson will look to prove his nickname, The Punisher, is one that vividly describes what he plans on doing to his opponent.
As for the women competing on this card, Alexis Davis is already an early candidate for fight of the night, and with a win over Rosi Sexton would move her one step closer to a date with Ronda Rousey.
And to cap things off from a Canadian perspective, Ryan Jimmo will be the final one to compete for the Great White North.
Knowing him as I do, he will look to outdo all six of his Canadian brethren and put on a performance that shines above all of the others combined.
It’s UFC 161 and I cannot wait for it to prove every one of the critics wrong.